Top Prospects: Pittsburgh Pirates

General
Manager:
Neal HuntingtonMinor
League Director:
Kyle StarkScouting
Director:
Greg SmithAAA:
Indianapolis Indians (International League) 76-68AA:
Altoona Curve (Eastern League) 64-77Hi
A:
Bradenton Marauders (Florida State League) 74-63Low
A:
West Virginia Power (South Atlantic League) 69-69Rookie
Adv.:
State College Spikes (New York-Penn League) 31-44Rookie:
Pirates (Gulf Coast League) 34-26Dominican:
DSL Pirates (Dominican Summer League) 41-30Venezuelan:
VSL Pirates (Venezuelan Summer League) 40-32System
OverviewIt
has been well chronicled that the Pittsburgh Pirates haven't enjoyed
a winning season since 1992, not coincidently the last season Barry
Bonds played for the team when they won the National League East and
fell to the Braves in the NL Championship series.
Of
course, Bonds signed a record six year, $43.75 million dollar
contract with the Giants, and 19 years later the Pirates have never
been the same.
They
did come close to snapping that streak this past year, holding
first-place in the NL Central late in July before falling off
drastically and finishing the season with the eighth-worst record in
MLB.
The
team was wise not to trade key prospects prior to the deadline just
to accomplish a short-term goal of putting a long-term bugaboo behind
them, although they did trade minor league first baseman Aaron Baker
to the Orioles in exchange for Derrek Lee.
Slowly
but surely, though, the Pirates are showing signs of improvement.
The organization has placed a greater emphasis on player development
since GM Neal Huntington became General Manager in September, 2007.
After years of steering away from any player who had especially high
signing bonus aspirations, they have spent more and more on the draft
in recent years, including the $13 million they gave to their first
two picks in 2011: RHP Gerrit Cole and OF Josh Bell.
That
followed their spending from 2010, in which they invested $8.75 in
the second overall pick, RHP Jameson Taillon, and the second pick of
the second round, RHP Stetson Allie.
In
fact, most of the players they have paid over slot after the first
few rounds have been prep pitchers (including LHP Colton Cain and
RHP’s Clay Holmes and Zack Von Rosenberg), defining the
organization’s priorities as firmly with developing young pitching.
They
also have been active on the international free agent market, most
notably when they signed Luis Heredia out of Mexico for $2.6 million,
and are currently among the teams that are actively pursuing Cuban
outfielder and YouTube sensation Yoenis Cespedes.
The
Pirates focus on pitchers has left the system a little thin on impact
bats, especially those after Bell and Dominican outfielder Starling
Marte, but they do have a trio of young stars already in place at the
big-league level.
2005
first-round pick Andrew McCutchen has established himself as one of
the top centerfielders in all of baseball, and second baseman Neil
Walker, the team's first-rounder in 2004, has really elevated his
game the last two years. The second overall pick from 2008, Pedro
Alvarez, has advanced quickly to the big-leagues but has yet to
blossom to his full potential.
Another
first-round pick, catcher Tony Sanchez (2009), took a step back in
2011, struggling at the AA level after tearing up the lower levels of
the Pirates' system the two previous seasons.
The
eighth overall pick in the upcoming draft in June represents the
lowest selection the team has had since 2005. Since the 1992 season
(and the 1993 draft) the Pirates have held the No. 1 overall pick
three times, with an average draft position of seventh from
1994-2011, but it appears as though they are intent on changing that
once all of the pieces have had a chance to fall into place.
New
rules to the CBA pertaining to the draft could affect the Pirates
newfound spending spree, but at least it is clear that the team won't
go on the cheap when it comes to scouting and player development.2011
DraftThe
Pirates entered the 2011 scouting season at this time last year with
the first overall selection in the draft, and most considered their
eventual first round pick, RHP Gerrit Cole, and Rice third baseman
Anthony Rendon as the favorites to be taken with that pick. A
shoulder injury caused a few teams at the top to back away from
Rendon, while Cole's teammate Trevor Bauer and Virginia left-hander
Danny Hultzen were talked about as potential first overall picks.
And
while no one expected the Pirates to take a cost-effective route
towards the draft, almost everyone was surprised when they selected
Texas high school power hitter Josh Bell, who made it explicitly
clear that he intended to attend Texas prior to the draft, with the
first pick in the second round. Leading up to the signing deadline,
a few inside whispers indicated that a deal would indeed get done,
giving the team the best power arm and possibly the best impact bat
from the 2011 draft class.
And
while the team was able to sign all of their picks in the top 10
rounds, their big spending at the top limited them to signing only
two players from rounds 11-20.
Third
rounder Alex Dickerson, who enjoyed a huge season at Indiana as a
sophomore, gives the Pirates a second potential impact bat from this
draft class, and he could move quickly if he continues to be
developed at first base instead of trying to make him work on a
corner outfield spot.Aside
from Bell, Dickerson, 3B Daniel Gamache (sixth round, Auburn) and OF
Taylor Lewis (10th,
Maine) the team continued to load up on power-armed projectable high
school pitchers with good size.
Ninth-rounder
Clay Holmes, who signed for $1.2 million prior to the mid-August
deadline thanks to a rapidly improving fastball, stands out the most
among the young pitchers.
Fellow
right-handed pitchers Colten Brewer, Tyler Glasnow, Jake Burnette and
Jason Creasy all have the size and stuff to find themselves on future
Pirates top 10 lists.Top
10 Prospects
1.
RHP Jameson Taillon
– Baseball-reference player profile
Taillon
and Cole form arguably the best duo of power arms in any system in
all of baseball. Taillon gets the nod for the top spot on this list,
largely because he has a full year of professional baseball under his
belt. The Pirates wisely restricted his pitch counts and overall use
last summer and he spent the entire year at the Low-A level pitching
for the West Virginia Power. That led to a season in which he
factored into only five decisions (2-3) in 23 games, all starts,
tossing 92.2 innings, an average of four innings per appearance,
striking out 97 and allowing only 22 walks.
While
Cole has the more dynamic fastball, Taillon's isn't far behind. He
routinely sits at 93-95 with the ability to touch the upper-90s in
the early innings when he's at his best. His curveball is also a
plus pitch, and his ability to command both pitches is part of the
reason he went second overall in 2010. He also throws both a slider
and a changeup, giving him a true four-pitch repertoire.
In
addition to his stuff, Taillon has the size and stature of a
prototypical workhorse at 6-foot-6 and 225 pounds, built strongly
through his core and lower half, which should allow him to sustain
the velocity on his fastball deep into ballgames.
The
Pirates wisely will continue to be patient with Taillon, as he's
expected to spend most to all of the 2012 season with Bradenton at
the high-A level in the Florida State League. He profiles as a staff
ace, as does Cole, and while it will take a few years for both of
them to get to Pittsburgh, if all goes well the Pirates will have a
dominant one-two punch leading their starting staff.2.
RHP Gerrit Cole
– Baseball-reference player profileCole
shares a similar scouting profile to Taillon, built tall and sturdy
at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds and a power arsenal that befits his size.
Cole started the 2007 Aflac All-American Classic game for the West as
Taillon did in 2009, and was taken 28th overall in the 2008 draft by the Yankees prior to attending UCLA.
Coming
out of high school there was some concern that Cole would eventually
wind up in a short relief role, with a delivery perceived to be
somewhat max effort and an arsenal in which everything he threw was
thrown hard. Not signing with the Yankees had more to do with his
desire to attend college than the Yankees not offering enough money.
Cole's
consistent fastball velocity, in which he can still dial it up to the
upper-90s in the later innings, is what sets him apart from the pack.
He learned to command his mid-to-upper-80s slider better at UCLA,
while also throwing his changeup more and taking a little off of his
fastball at times for added movement. He still can struggle with
control at times, but also can get away with mistakes given his
overpowering velocity.
The
Pirates decided to give Cole a taste of professional baseball by
debuting him in the Arizona Fall League, and he very well may join
Taillon in the Bradenton rotation to open the 2012 season. Cole
threw 322 innings in three years at UCLA and that experience should
allow him to advance quickly as long as all of the other pieces fall
into place.3.
OF Josh Bell
– Baseball-reference player profile
Bell
emerged as a legitimate first-round pick after his impressive
performance at the 2010 WWBA World Championship in Jupiter, Florida
after he spent all of the summer of 2010 recovering from a cracked
left knee cap.
He
followed that up with an equally impressive spring during his senior
year, and the only reason he wasn't selected among the top 10-15
overall picks was due to the letter he issued to all 30 MLB teams
stating his intention to attend Texas. The Pirates clearly did their
homework, and of course it helped that they were prepared to offer
him $5 million to add him to their system.
While
Bell is a good overall athlete, his bat is what makes him stand out.
He shows exceptional bat speed at the plate with very good strength
in his hands and wrists, allowing him to allow the ball to travel
deep into the strike zone. He also shows an advanced knowledge of
what he's doing at the plate, and a smooth, rhythmic swing from both
sides of the plate as a switch hitter. He has the potential to hit
for both power and a high average, and has good enough speed and arm
strength to fit in at either corner outfield spot.
Bell
will likely begin his professional career at Low-A, and may spend the
entire year there.4.
RHP Luis Heredia
– Baseball-reference player profile
While
Heredia doesn't have the same, recognizable name and overall presence
as Taillon and Cole, his profile is very similar with a tall,
powerfully built frame and an equally powerful low-90s fastball that
touches the mid-90s with plenty of room for added velocity as he
continues to mature.
His
career path will be slower than that of Taillon and Cole, as Heredia
just turned 17 last August, spending last summer in the Gulf Coast
League. Not unexpectedly for a pitcher of his age and experience
level, he needs to work on both the break and overall command of both
his curveball and changeup, but both pitches show promise.
He
signed for $2.6 million out of Mexico, and has shown a high
propensity for instruction, meaning his career path could pick up
momentum once he shows signing of honing his craft.5.
OF Starling Marte
– Baseball-reference player profile
With
Andrew McCutchen firmly entrenched in centerfield while serving as
the face of the franchise, the Pirates have been able to remain
patient with Marte's development. Built long and lean with wiry
strength, similar to McCutchen, Marte's game is built around speed
and defense, and he also has a strong throwing arm giving him the
perfect profile to play centerfield.
Even
if Marte is forced to move to an outfield corner due to McCutchen's
presence, his lack of power won't be as glaring given McCutchen's
production. Although Marte did hit 38 doubles, eight triples and 12
home runs last season, and he has steadily progressed at the plate
since being signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2007. That
includes a .332/.370/.500 slash line from a year ago at the AA level.
His
speed allows him to stretch extra-base hits, and also makes him a
threat on the basepaths. His increase in power did lead to 100
strikeouts, and he only walked 22 times, pointing to a need for him
to improve his approach prior to making the final jump to the
big-leagues, which could occur later this year.6.
RHP Kyle McPherson
– Baseball-reference player profile
McPherson
has progressed well each of the last three years after being a
primary infielder in college. After his junior year at the
University of Mobile McPherson participated in the 2007 Pre-Draft
Showcase in Cedar Rapids, Iowa with the sole intent of showing what
he could do on the mound. He pitched at 89-92 at that event, showing
a well-rounded four-pitch repertoire. His velocity has creeped up a
few ticks since then, and continues to show the same arsenal
including a refined changeup, and offers a durable frame at 6-foot-4,
215 pounds. McPherson went 12-6 with a 2.96 ERA between two levels
last year, and is poised to pitch at the AAA level this coming year.
He profiles as a mid-rotation starter, and may get the call up to
Pittsburgh later this year.7.
RHP Stetson Allie
– Baseball-reference player profile
Allie
starred as a two-way performer in high school and was named to the
2009 Aflac All-American Classic for his power arm/bat profile. He
reached 97 mph in the Classic, and has flirted with triple digits
from his powerful 6-foot-2, 220-pound frame. He also throws a power
slider that has been clocked as high as 91 and can sit routinely in
the mid to upper-80s. The Pirates decided his future was brighter on
the mound when they took him with the second pick in the second round
of the 2010 draft, signing him away from North Carolina with a $2.25
million signing bonus.
Control
continues to be Allie's biggest concern, walking 28 batters in 26
innings last year pitching in the New York Penn League. Those
control issues and his pure power profile continue to lead many to
believe that his future lies in the bullpen, but the Pirates can be
patient with his development, continuing to develop him as a starter
in the lower levels to allow him to gain much needed experience.8.
OF Robbie Grossman
– Baseball-reference player profile
It
took a few years for things to click for the athletic, switch-hitting
Grossman, who the Pirates selected in the sixth round of the 2008
draft. A former Aflac All-American who could have been drafted in the
late first to second round coming out of high school, he's another
example of the team's newfound spending, signing for $1 million.
After
hitting .254 with limited power (nine home runs) over his first 246
games spanning 2008-10, Grossman hit .294/.418/.451 with 13 home runs
last year. The 104 walks he drew created a greater buzz speaking to
his patience and selectivity, and there is also a speed component to
his game, swiping 24 bases. He continued to hit the ball well in the
Arizona Fall League, batting .375 with seven home runs. While he has
good speed and a good, not great throwing arm, Grossman may be a
better fit on an outfield corner than center, but if his bat
continues to progress that won't be an issue.9.
LHP Colton Cain
– Baseball-reference player profile
The
Pirates plucked away a pair of promising Longhorns recruits in
consecutive years with seven-figure bonuses, signing Cain for $1.125
million as an eighth rounded after luring Grossman away in 2008. So
far Cain is waiting for his breakout season, although he didn't fare
terribly, posting a 3.64 ERA on a talent West Virginia staff that
included Taillon, Von Rosenberg, Zach Dodson and Brooks Pounders.
Also
an intimidating slugger in high school, it's hard not to fall in love
with Cain's measurables as a 6-foot-3, 225-pound lefty that has the
ability to dial his fastball up to the low-90s with room and
projection remaining for added velocity. His curveball also is a
promising pitch when it's working for him, but consistency has not
been one of his greatest strengths, as his curve tended to flatten
out and his fastball sat more in the upper-80s this past season. If
a similar light switch goes on for Cain this year as it did for
Grossman last, he could put himself in a similar Pirates prospect
conversation as Taillon, Cole and Heredia.10.
C Tony Sanchez
– Baseball-reference player profile
A
well chronicled history of reaching for players in the first round
open to signing quickly for slot value caused many to think the
Pirates were back to their normal ways in 2009 when they took Sanchez
with the fourth overall pick. Coming off of a very good year at
Boston College, most had Sanchez pegged as a late first-round pick
than an early one, and he not surprisingly signed quickly for $2.5
million.
The
Pirates showed that the move may have been more astute than people
gave them credit for, as Sanchez enjoyed immediate success in the
minors, hitting .312 in his first two seasons, and the team handed
out seven figures to lock up their sixth and eighth round picks, Zack
Von Rosenberg and Colton Cain.
Sanchez
missed significant time in 2010 due to a broken jaw sustained
midseason, and batted only .241 this past year at the AA level.
Despite the drop in production, he did continue to show an advanced
and patient approach as evidenced by his .340 on-base percentage.
His
defense has always been considered his strength, with good footwork,
soft hands, a quick release and a strong, accurate throwing arm from
behind the dish. The Pirates may opt to return Sanchez to the AA
level to open this coming season, but it likely won't be long before
he's looked upon to become the everyday backstop in the big leagues.Others
in the Conversation: 1B
Alex Dickerson, RHP Nick Kingham, RHP Clay Holmes, LHP Jeff Locke,
RHP Bryan Morris, RHP Zack Von Rosenberg